Posted By Les Conklin on Nov 1, 2015
The clock is ticking for Scottsdale voters to cast their ballots in this important election. Vote!
“The Mayor and Council of the City of Scottsdale have called for a Special Election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2015, to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds in the amount not to exceed $95,960,000. All City residents who are registered by October 5, 2015 are eligible to vote in this election. The results of this bond election will determine how the City of Scottsdale will meet its capital requirements over the next several years.” City of Scottsdale Information Pamphlet
The board of directors of the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association (GPPA) urges Scottsdale voters to vote on this important matter. Our goal is to provide information for readers, so that they can make an educated decision. What do you think? Let readers know by participating in The Peak’s poll below or entering a comment at the end of this article. Individual poll entries are confidential; summary poll results will be displayed as part of this article.
Bond Questions and Peak Polls
Scottsdale voters are being asked to vote on six bond questions. Below you will find a summary statement for each question on the ballot. Click on box under the statement for the text of the ballot language. To participate in and/or see the current status of The Peak’s poll for that question click on the link.
Bond Question 1 seeks voter authorization to sell $31,900,000 general obligation bonds for parks and community facilities.
TEXT OF BALLOT, QUESTION 1
PURPOSE: PARKS AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES -AMOUNT: $31,900,000 Shall the City of Scottsdale be authorized to issue and sell not exceeding $31,900,000 principal amount of its bonds to provide funds to design, acquire, construct, reconstruct, improve, furnish and equip the following parks and community facilities projects in the estimated amounts shown: Vista Del Camino Park/Indian Bend Wash Park Renovations and Lake Rehabilitation ($18,500,000); Pool Chemical Safety Improvements ($3,500,000); Energy Efficient Lighting Upgrades at Ballfields ($4,600,000); Aging Park Building Replacement ($3,400,000); Water Conservation Irrigation Upgrades ($1,900,000)? If the actual amount of bond proceeds expended for a certain project is less than the estimate, the excess bond authorization resulting from the difference between the actual amount of bond proceeds expended and the estimate may be expended, if needed, on other projects described in this Question 1. Payment of Bonds: The issuance of these bonds will result in a property tax increase sufficient to pay annual debt service on the bonds. A “yes” vote shall authorize the City of Scottsdale governing body to issue and sell $31,900,000 of general obligation bonds of the City of Scottsdale to be repaid with secondary property taxes. A “no” vote shall not authorize the City of Scottsdale governing body to issue and sell such bonds of the City of Scottsdale. Content goes here
Question 1 Poll
Bond Question 2 seeks voter authorization to sell $16,540,000 general obligation bonds for transportation.
TEXT OF BALLOT, QUESTION 2
PURPOSE: TRANSPORTATION ·AMOUNT: $16,540,000 Shall the City of Scottsdale be authorized to issue and sell not exceeding $16,540,000 principal amount of its bonds to provide funds to plan, design, acquire, construct, reconstruct, and improve the following transportation and street projects in the estimated amounts shown: Hayden Road and Chaparral Road Intersection Improvements ($2,510,000); Happy Valley Road Improvements from Pima Road to Alma School Road ($4,830,000); Highland Avenue Improvements from Scottsdale Road to Goldwater Road ($2, 100,000); Downtown Pedestrian Improvements ($4,000,000); and McDowell Road Bicycle Lane Improvements ($3, 100,000)? If the actual amount of bond proceeds expended for a certain project is less than the estimate, the excess bond authorization resulting from the difference between the actual amount of bond proceeds expended and the estimate may be expended, if needed, on other projects described in this Question 2. Payment of Bonds: The issuance of these bonds will result in a property tax increase sufficient to pay annual debt service on the bonds. A “yes” vote shall authorize the City of Scottsdale governing body to issue and sell $16,540, 000 of general obligation bonds of the City of Scottsdale to be repaid with secondary property taxes. A “no” vote shall not authorize the City of Scottsdale governing body to issue and sell such bonds of the City of Scottsdale. BOND APPROVAL, YES BOND APPROVAL, NO
Question 2 Poll
Bond Question 3 seeks voter authorization to sell $6,870,000 general obligation bonds for citywide technology.
TEXT OF BALLOT QUESTION 3
PURPOSE: CITYWIDE TECHNOLOGY ·AMOUNT: $6,870,000 Shall the City of Scottsdale be authorized to issue and sell not exceeding $6,870,000 principal amount of its bond! to provide funds to plan, design, acquire, construct, reconstruct, and improve Citywide Technology in the estimated amounts shown: Public Building Energy Efficiency Upgrades ($1,500,000); Public Building Wireless improvements ($4 70,000); and Disaster Recovery Infrastructure ($4,900,000), including without limitation, purchasing software and hardware to prepare for an unexpected loss of the city’s primary data center and critical business operation technologies? If the actual amount of bond proceeds expended for a certain project is less than the estimate, the excess bond authorization resulting from the difference between the actual amount of bond proceeds expended and the estimate may be expended, if needed, on other projects described in this Question 3. Payment of Bonds: The issuance of these bonds will result in a property tax increase sufficient to pay annual debt service on the bonds. A “yes” vote shall authorize the City of Scottsdale governing body to issue and sell $6,870,000 of general obligation bonds of the City of Scottsdale to be repaid with secondary property taxes. A “no” vote shall not authorize the City of Scottsdale governing body to issue and sell such bonds of the City Scottsdale. BOND APPROVAL, YES BOND APPROVAL, NO
Question 3 Poll
Bond Question 4 seeks voter authorization to sell $12,500,000 general obligation bonds for street pavement replacement.
TEXT OF BALLOT QUESTION 4
PURPOSE: STREET PAVEMENT REPLACEMENT -AMOUNT: $12,500,000 Shall the City of Scottsdale be authorized to issue and sell not exceeding $12,500,000 principal amount of its bonds to provide funds to plan, design, construct, replace, and improve the following street project: Citywide Deteriorated Pavement Replacement? Payment of Bonds: The issuance of these bonds will result in a property tax increase sufficient to pay annual debt service on the bonds. A “yes” vote shall authorize the City of Scottsdale governing body to issue and sell $12,500,000 of general obligation bonds of the City of Scottsdale to be repaid with secondary property taxes. A “no” vote shall not authorize the City of Scottsdale governing body to issue and sell such bonds of the City of Scottsdale. BOND APPROVAL, YES BOND APPROVAL, NO
Question 4 Poll
Bond Question 5 seeks voter authorization to sell $16,350,000 general obligation bonds for public safety-fire.
BALLOT TEXT QUESTION 5
PURPOSE: PUBLIC SAFETY-FIRE -AMOUNT: $16,350,000 Shall the City of Scottsdale be authorized to issue and sell not exceeding $16,350,000 principal amount of its bonds to provide funds to design, acquire, construct, reconstruct, improve, furnish and equip, and, if necessary, acquire land for, the following Fire Stations in the estimated amounts shown: Fire Station 605 ($800,000), Fire Station 613 ($5, 100,000) and Fire Station 616 ($3, 700,000) and to provide funds to relocate Fire Station 603 ($6, 750,000)? If the actual amount of bond proceeds expended for a certain project is less than the estimate, the excess bond authorization resulting from the difference between the actual amount of bond proceeds expended and the estimate may be expended, if needed, on other projects described in this Question 5. Payment of Bonds: The issuance of these bonds will result in a property tax increase sufficient to pay annual debt service on the bonds. A “yes” vote shall authorize the City Scottsdale governing body to issue and sell $16,350,000 of general obligation bonds of the City of Scottsdale to be repaid with secondary property taxes. A “no” vote shall not authorize the City of Scottsdale governing body to issue and sell such bonds of the City of Scottsdale. BOND APPROVAL, YES BOND APPROVAL, NO
Question 5 Poll
Bond Question 6 seeks voter authorization to sell $11,800,000 general obligation bonds for public safety-police.
TEXT OF BALLOT QUESTION 6
PURPOSE: PUBLIC SAFETY-POLICE -AMOUNT: $11,800,000 Shall the City of Scottsdale be authorized to issue and sell not exceeding $11,800,000 principal amount of its bonds to provide funds to design, acquire, construct, reconstruct, improve, furnish and equip the following public safety projects in the estimated amounts shown: Police Civic Center Jail and Station Renovation ($10, 100,000); and Police Vehicle Training Track Resurfacing ($1,700,000)? If the actual amount of bond proceeds expended for a certain project is less than the estimate, the excess bond authorization resulting from the difference between the actual amount of bond proceeds expended and the estimate may be expended, if needed, on other projects described in this Question 6. Payment of Bonds: The issuance of these bonds will result in a property tax increase sufficient to pay annual debt service on the bonds. A “yes” vote shall authorize the City of Scottsdale governing body to issue and sell $11,800,000 of general obligation bonds of the City of Scottsdale to be repaid with secondary property taxes. A “no” vote shall not authorize the City of Scottsdale governing body to issue and sell such bonds of the City of Scottsdale. BOND APPROVAL, YES BOND APPROVAL, NO
Question 6 Poll
Arguments For and Against
City of Scottsdale “Information Pamphlet and Text of Ballot” document mailed to Scottsdale voters contains arguments for and against bond questions. The following individuals and groups have written arguments in support: Councilwoman Kathy Littlefield, Virginia Korte, Councilmember, Linda Millhaven, Councilmember, Gary Shapiro, Real Estate Broker, Douglas Reed, Carolyn Allen, Judy Frost, “Yes to Scottsdale Bonds 2015 in support of Questions 1 through 6,” Barry Graham, Chairman, “Yes to Scottsdale Bonds 2015 in support of questions 1 through 6,” Craig H. Jackson, Tom Sadvary, CEO, Honor Health, Mary Manross, Doug Huls, Sasha Weller, President of the Scottsdale Firefighters Association, Jim and Sandy Bruner, Charley Freericks, President, DMB Associates, Inc., Bill Crawford, Suzzanne Klapp, Councilwoman, Mayor W.J. Lane, Eric M. Larson, President/CEO, Scottsdale Area Chamber, Sponsored by “Yes to Scottsdale Bonds 2015 in support of questions 1 through 6:” Jim Bruner, Richard V. Campana, Sam K. Campana, Ross A. Dean, Wayne Ecton, Ned O’Hearn, Donald Prior, Charlie Smith, Dana , Jack Miller, General Manager, Fairmont Princess Resort, Paul Messinger, Ryan McKinnon, President, Scottsdale FOP Lodge #335. Those arguing against the bond: Richard A. Breyer, Investment Advisor, Guy Phillips, Scottsdale City Council, James W. O’Connor, Chairman, Republican Party of Scottsdale, Retired Investment Advisor/Bond Specialist, John Washington, Publisher, ScottsdaleTrails.com, Ardith Hildebrant, President, Arizona Republican Assembly, NE Maricopa County Chapter, Dan Semenchuk. Read Pamphlet
Email Messages Received by The Peak/GPPA from Virginia Korte, David Smith and Howard Myers. Read Messages
Additional Election Information
Scottsdale City Clerk’s Office, 3939 N. Drinkwater Boulevard, Scottsdale 480-312-2412
City of Scottsdale Website: An excellent page with polling locations, financial details, etc. www.scottsdaleaz.gov/elections Visit Website
What do you think?
You can help your fellow Peak readers by submitting a comment about the bond election. We’ve seen thoughtful remarks for and against this bond election. This article is an opportunity to share your opinion with the thousands of site visitors.
We invite you to share your thoughts about this article by using the “Submit a Comment” box at the bottom of this page. Your email address will not be published. All comments are reviewed based on The Peak’s
Comment Policy prior to publishing.
.
October 14, 2015
Read my blog on why you should vote No! to this bond tax at ScottsdaleAdvocates.com and watch the video at You Tube-tax bond 2015 guy phillips
You may also contact me anytime at guyrphilips@gmail.com
October 16, 2015
I am rewriting because the website is not updated.
If you email me I can get you all kinds of info on why this bond is a bad idea.
Folks, do you want the Desert Discovery Center? If you vote for these bonds you are voting for the DDC!
Let me explain….
The DDC is now up to about $80 million. Those behind it know that the public would never vote for it.
so how are they going to get the money and the votes?
Contrive a bond issue and bring that to the voters instead. Tell them these are much needed projects alond with some sob stories and 3 page full color brochures paid for by developers.
After the public votes for the bond, the $95 million on the books of the General Fund can be taken off.
Then the DDC gang will bring the DDC back to council with some proposal for the city to fund about 10-20 million for construction and reserve 3-4 million a year in debt service (its a losing proposition) which a complicit council will agree to (see Museum of the West and TNEC, both voted on by council, not voters.
If this bond fails, like the past two, they will not be able to get the votes on the council to proceed with the DDC because we wont have the money.
The only way to starve the DDC beast is to vote NO! on this bond!
Again, if this isnt enough to vote no,email me and I can give you 20 separate reasons to vote no soley on the basis of the bonds itself.
October 19, 2015
I give up. After 20 years, I’m going to be a user of “my own” comment idea. More about that in a minute.
The board of the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association (GPPA), the organziation that publishes The Peak, decided that GPPA would not take a position for or against the questions on the Scottsdale bond election. Basically, our organization’s role and The Peak’s role is to provide information. It was also agreed that individual board members were free to express their personal opinions. So here my personal opinion.
After reading most of the arguments for and against the bond questions – a mind-numbing experience – I’m FOR the approval of all six questions. A key reason that we enjoy such a high quality of life is that residents have been willing to pass bond measures to support capital expenditures in the past. I want that exceptional quality of life to continue into the future.
Rather than me doing a re-write of what others have argued, I suggest you read Councilman David Smith’s email in the “Arguments For and Against” section of the above article. He begins, “After 15 years, it’s time to invest in Scottsdale.” He then makes six simple, dollar and cents statements that all of us can make sense of. He supports approval of all six questions.
In addition to support the bond, I’m writing this to encourage readers to comment frequently on articles in The Peak. Reader comments increase community interest and involvement. That is why we used a blog type platform to produce this web-based Peak magazine. Back in the day, about 1995, when I was creating the first Scenic Drive website, I created an e-mail discussion group to support community conversations about Scottsdale’s Scenic Drive, preservation efforts, Scenic Corridors, and zoning cases. There was a challenge; there were only a handfull of people using email and the discussion group ended up with two members, me and a City of Scottsdale staff person. Today, thousands of people read The Peak every week and almost everybody has email. Hopefully this comment, my first, will get the ball rolling.
October 19, 2015
Hi Les
You have my deepest respect but this bond is a ruse. We have had two bond elections already-both voted down. Each time different projects. they pull them out of the city hat to see which ones this time will get a yes vote.
did you know we are spending $35 million to build 5 double lane roundabouts in the airpark? thats a third fo the bond for unneeded and unwanted projects tha coudl have been used for the streets. Hayden and chapparal? there is nothing wrong with tha intersection.Sidewalk inprovements for residents of the million dollar Optima on Highland?
the argument that we need these projects to keep our quality of life is a bully tactic to make you think the city will fall apart if you vote no. It is all untrue.
David Smith is a multi millionaire who advocates $100 million a year in property taxes. He can afford it! How about the fixed income down south? Their taxes go up but their SS check doesnt. half the elderly who lost their homes during the recession was from property tax seizure. I can go on and on but you get the point.